Discussion Panel at the White House Clean Energy Forum

Today, I moderated a panel at the White House Clean Energy Forum on “International Leadership, Competitiveness, and Exports” featuring three industry leaders: Bruce Sohn, President of First Solar; Mary Ann Wright, Vice President of Global Technology and Innovation Accelerator for Johnson Controls; and Steve Bolze, the President and CEO of GE Power and Water.

With approximately 100 clean energy business and thought leaders, Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke kicked off the forum with his words: “The development of clean energy and energy efficient technologies could spur the greatest economic opportunity of the 21st century.”

A spirited conversation ensued as panelists and audience members alike commented that the key to expanding clean energy exports is increasing domestic demand for clean energy, and that starts with enacting comprehensive energy legislation. Others commented on the significant clean energy investments made by other countries from China to Brazil to Germany. Competing in this globally competitive marketplace, as one audience member put it, requires a call for the “revolutionary, not evolutionary.”

ITA is attempting to rise to that challenge by developing a strategy to double renewable energy and energy efficiency exports in the next five years as part of President Obama’s National Export Initiative.

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7 comments

As an American, and on behalf of most Americans,I say it is time to stop talking, discussing, debating and planning and start doing. Come on, Courtney, we All know what needs to be done so let’s do it!

Like Gary Locke said,“The development of clean energy and energy efficient technologies could spur the greatest economic opportunity of the 21st century.”

Let’s do it! Let’s put fires under the butts of the 100 clean energy business and thought leaders and do it!

To quote: “The development of clean energy and energy efficient technologies could spur the greatest economic opportunity of the 21st century.”
Twenty years ago such a statement would have caused laughter and derision. Green business and the quest for clean energy certainly has come a long way in just 2 decades.

The quicker greener solutions are introduced the quicker people can be trained up into relatively new fields. Now would be the best time to push on this as many people have found themselves jobless and they could fill the unemployment gap.

I think it is important to foster the production of renewable energy not only to reduce carbon pollution, but also to stay competitive. The Europeans and China are investing in these kinds of companies and the USA should do it too.

They really are investing a lot more money into renewable energy. We are seeing it in a much larger market in the auto industry over there as well. They keep putting tons of money into developing better cars that manufacturers over here aren’t.